In-hospital interstage improves interstage survival after the Norwood stage 1 operation.

Objectives: The interstage mortality rate after a Norwood stage 1 operation remains 12-20% in current series. In-hospital interstage facilitates escalation of care, possibly improving outcome.

Methods: A retrospective study was designed for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and HLHS variants, offering an in-hospital stay after the Norwood operation until the completion of stage 2.

Accuracy of computed tomography in detection of great vessel stenosis or hypoplasia before superior bidirectional cavopulmonary connection: Comparison with cardiac catheterization and surgical findings.

Background: Cardiac catheterization is the gold-standard modality for investigation of cardiovascular morphology before bidirectional cavopulmonary connection, but requires general anaesthesia and is associated with procedural risk.

Aims: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and safety of computed tomography in diagnosing great vessel stenosis/hypoplasia compared with cardiac catheterization and surgical findings.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients (10 after Norwood stage I) underwent computed tomography before surgery between January 2010 and June 2016; 16 of these patients also underwent cardiac catheterization.

Outcome after transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus in infants less than 6 kg: A national study from United Kingdom and Ireland.

Objectives: This study aimed to report our national experience with transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion in infants weighing <6 kg.

Background: The technique of transcatheter PDA closure has evolved in the past two decades and is increasingly used in smaller patients but data on safety and efficacy are limited.

Methods: Patients weighing < 6 kg in whom transcatheter PDA occlusion was attempted in 13 tertiary paediatric cardiology units in the United Kingdom and Ireland were retrospectively analyzed to review the outcome and complications.

Right Ventricular Pressure Overload and Pathophysiology of Growing Porcine Biomodel.

The primary objective was to create a clinically relevant model of right ventricular hypertension and to study right ventricular myocardial pathophysiology in growing organism. The secondary objective was to analyse the effect of oral enoximone (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) therapy on right ventricular haemodynamic parameters and myocardial changes in biomodel of right ventricular hypertension. The study included a total of 12 piglets of 42 days of age.

Oral Enoximone as an Alternative to Protracted Intravenous Medication in Severe Pediatric Myocardial Failure.

Phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitors have been used successfully in pediatric patients with acute or chronic myocardial dysfunction over the last two decades. Their protracted continuous intravenous administration is associated with risk of infectious and thromboembolic complications. Weaning intravenous medication and starting oral angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and/or beta-blockers can be challenging.